Air conditioning
Discussion
Nothing to do with the current lovely weather BUT we have a 4 bed detached home that is like an oven in summer,
We're starting our project next spring but before I ring anyone up and waste anyone's time what sort of prices to have it ducted throughout the whole house similar to what you get in houses in America with floor or wall vents?
Or how much am I looking roughly to do 4 bedrooms and our landing with those wall mounted type?
I'm thinking about 5k-10k or is my budget way off?
We're starting our project next spring but before I ring anyone up and waste anyone's time what sort of prices to have it ducted throughout the whole house similar to what you get in houses in America with floor or wall vents?
Or how much am I looking roughly to do 4 bedrooms and our landing with those wall mounted type?
I'm thinking about 5k-10k or is my budget way off?
As an owner of an American house (along with the bank), I'm going to suggest that the amount of work to retrofit forced air to a house that isn't designed for it will be significant.
A whole house A/C unit from home depot will run $2k+, so in the UK, 3k GBP+ with the disparity in pricing. Plus fitting. Then there's the fan for actually forcing the air round the house, several 6" or 8" duct runs per floor which will each need the floor up - they're solid, not flexible pipe - then diverters, vents, splitters, tape, various fittings, etc. I went to home depot to get some bits and was shocked that a fitting that looked like someone had bent a small sheet of galvanised steel with a pair of pliers was $25...we spent ~$300 on bits just to move some of the outlets around in the basement.
As a new install in a new build it'll be fairly simple to add, but as a retrofit, I think the price will be substantially more than you'd expect.
I think the prices you've got would cover the parts...labour would be another matter.
All IMHO.
A whole house A/C unit from home depot will run $2k+, so in the UK, 3k GBP+ with the disparity in pricing. Plus fitting. Then there's the fan for actually forcing the air round the house, several 6" or 8" duct runs per floor which will each need the floor up - they're solid, not flexible pipe - then diverters, vents, splitters, tape, various fittings, etc. I went to home depot to get some bits and was shocked that a fitting that looked like someone had bent a small sheet of galvanised steel with a pair of pliers was $25...we spent ~$300 on bits just to move some of the outlets around in the basement.
As a new install in a new build it'll be fairly simple to add, but as a retrofit, I think the price will be substantially more than you'd expect.
I think the prices you've got would cover the parts...labour would be another matter.
All IMHO.
I will be keeping an eye on this thread, our bedrooms are like ovens and being on a main road doesn't allow for both sets of windows to be left open due to road noise. We have bought a house in a much quieter area but would still seriously consider AC for the bedroom if costs are permissible .
Something like this, providing you are reasonably handy on the tools.
https://www.aircondirect.co.uk/p/879042/9000-btu-p...
https://www.aircondirect.co.uk/p/879042/9000-btu-p...
lee_fr200 said:
Nothing to do with the current lovely weather BUT we have a 4 bed detached home that is like an oven in summer,
We're starting our project next spring but before I ring anyone up and waste anyone's time what sort of prices to have it ducted throughout the whole house similar to what you get in houses in America with floor or wall vents?
Or how much am I looking roughly to do 4 bedrooms and our landing with those wall mounted type?
I'm thinking about 5k-10k or is my budget way off?
I am not sure it is possible with wall or floor vents. Your best option would be fitting the vents in the ceiling and fitting two ducted units in the loft space . We're starting our project next spring but before I ring anyone up and waste anyone's time what sort of prices to have it ducted throughout the whole house similar to what you get in houses in America with floor or wall vents?
Or how much am I looking roughly to do 4 bedrooms and our landing with those wall mounted type?
I'm thinking about 5k-10k or is my budget way off?
Alucidnation said:
Something like this, providing you are reasonably handy on the tools.
https://www.aircondirect.co.uk/p/879042/9000-btu-p...
We had a similar unit in our house when we moved in, fitted to the landing wall and was quite effective at cooling the three bedrooms opposite. Don't think it was particularly expensive to run, we ripped it out for an extension and I do miss it. These look like a good idea and a little more subtle for individual rooms :https://www.aircondirect.co.uk/p/879042/9000-btu-p...
http://www.lg-dfs.com/art-cool-gallery.aspx/LA090H...
We live in Western Australia and have a fair bit of A/C experience. As above, retro-fitting a "whole house" A/C system in a building not designed for it will be a massive task. Here the systems only have ceiling vents, none at floor level, typically with one in the ceiling on the landing which is the intake and one or more at ceiling level (ceiling or wall) in each of the rooms.
The ducting from the chiller through the roof space and through the ceiling cavities downstairs is quite significant. You cant use small ducts because the air will get too hot by the time it reaches your room.
This picture doesnt' exaggerate the size of the ducting required:
Our current house was built in 1970 something so doesn't have ducted A/C. We have a 2k/w split system in the lounge and it does very well at keeping things cool even on a 40C day. What it doesn't do well is cool more than a couple of rooms in our "bungalow". Even if we crank up the fan speed and aim the outlet parallel with the ceiling so the air is directed right at the door leading into the adjacent room, it really doesnt do a great deal in the other room unless we have it set to 17C in the lounge! - This is with an Aussie open-plan home so I'd imagine it would be worse in an English house.
We've had both Panasonic and Fujitsu split systems in different houses, one old and one new of each brand. The Fujitsu is by far the quietest of the two. Even on "Quiet" mode the Panasonic is quite loud. The Fujitsu on quiet is quieter than a full-speed pedestal fan.
I've lost track of English Electricity prices but ours costs us AU$100 a month to run 24/7 during the summer. We use it as a heater (more of a warm air blower) on cold winter nights (10C outside!) and it does that quite well too, costs no more in warm or cool modes.
The split system mentioned above seems quite good value.
In the bedroom we have a free-standing portable A/C unit for hot summer nights (when it's 30C all night outside!). It is one of the quietest on the market but it is LOUD, I mean REALLY loud when the compressor kicks in. Imagine the sound of a really noise fridge freezer multiplied by three combined with the sound of turning up the fan in your car to the max. Its a bit like white noise and you get used to it after a couple of nights but it is LOUD.
The ducting from the chiller through the roof space and through the ceiling cavities downstairs is quite significant. You cant use small ducts because the air will get too hot by the time it reaches your room.
This picture doesnt' exaggerate the size of the ducting required:
Our current house was built in 1970 something so doesn't have ducted A/C. We have a 2k/w split system in the lounge and it does very well at keeping things cool even on a 40C day. What it doesn't do well is cool more than a couple of rooms in our "bungalow". Even if we crank up the fan speed and aim the outlet parallel with the ceiling so the air is directed right at the door leading into the adjacent room, it really doesnt do a great deal in the other room unless we have it set to 17C in the lounge! - This is with an Aussie open-plan home so I'd imagine it would be worse in an English house.
We've had both Panasonic and Fujitsu split systems in different houses, one old and one new of each brand. The Fujitsu is by far the quietest of the two. Even on "Quiet" mode the Panasonic is quite loud. The Fujitsu on quiet is quieter than a full-speed pedestal fan.
I've lost track of English Electricity prices but ours costs us AU$100 a month to run 24/7 during the summer. We use it as a heater (more of a warm air blower) on cold winter nights (10C outside!) and it does that quite well too, costs no more in warm or cool modes.
The split system mentioned above seems quite good value.
In the bedroom we have a free-standing portable A/C unit for hot summer nights (when it's 30C all night outside!). It is one of the quietest on the market but it is LOUD, I mean REALLY loud when the compressor kicks in. Imagine the sound of a really noise fridge freezer multiplied by three combined with the sound of turning up the fan in your car to the max. Its a bit like white noise and you get used to it after a couple of nights but it is LOUD.
Edited by 200bhp on Friday 26th May 22:36
Alucidnation said:
I am going to be fitting a mini split in our bedroom and lounge soon.
I love the hot weather, but these two rooms have big windows and the sun on them all day.
We have been out for the evening and just got back.
Checking now, the bedroom is near 30 degrees.
f
k that.
Ours is like that now whereas downstairs is quite cool but the 2 fans we have are in the boys bedrooms to keep them cool and me and the missus are roasting I love the hot weather, but these two rooms have big windows and the sun on them all day.
We have been out for the evening and just got back.
Checking now, the bedroom is near 30 degrees.
f
k that.I fit a split system with my dad in his bedroom about 13yr ago and apart from drilling the big hole through the wall it was easy going, but didn't want to go this route as 2-4 chillers to satisfy just upstairs would be unsightly, and the excess pipework between the chiller and the wall system was just stupid (luckily we could hide his under gravel)
I like the idea of something in the loft with roof ducts as each bedroom is very easily accessible in the loft space and I wouldn't mind split systems downstairs but when I knock the kitchen and dining room into one it will also go into a extension so it would probably need a fairly powerful system
I like the idea of something in the loft with roof ducts as each bedroom is very easily accessible in the loft space and I wouldn't mind split systems downstairs but when I knock the kitchen and dining room into one it will also go into a extension so it would probably need a fairly powerful system
I just fitted a split for the bedroom - easy as anything, just make sure you get a "Quick Connect" version or you'll need an air-con engineer to vacuum it down and fill it. Someone F- gas registered (like me!) would happily do that as a homer - the gas costs a few quid, he just has to wait half an hour or so while the vacuum pump does it's bit before he fills it.
Bear in mind you'll have to core a 3.5" hole through the outside wall, and generally only get 4 or 5 metres of pipework to connect the indoor and outdoor units, most come with brackets to hold the outdoor unit up so that shouldn't be a problem - you can put it at the same height outside as the indoor unit is, inside.
Mine is a 12,000 BTU single indoor unit for the bedroom, and can get it down to 12 degrees from 20 degrees in about 15 minutes.
You can get multi-splits, with one outdoor unit and several indoor units - cheaper and less ugly than having white boxes stuck all over the outside wall!
Bear in mind you'll have to core a 3.5" hole through the outside wall, and generally only get 4 or 5 metres of pipework to connect the indoor and outdoor units, most come with brackets to hold the outdoor unit up so that shouldn't be a problem - you can put it at the same height outside as the indoor unit is, inside.
Mine is a 12,000 BTU single indoor unit for the bedroom, and can get it down to 12 degrees from 20 degrees in about 15 minutes.
You can get multi-splits, with one outdoor unit and several indoor units - cheaper and less ugly than having white boxes stuck all over the outside wall!
I think this would be a great addition to our house.
Vented isn't viable in a prebuilt house so a split unit would do the job instead.
They can hear as well as cool / you don't really need central heating with these units. All up I don't think there is very much in it between a wet central heating system and air con on an ongoing basis.
Looks are hmmm
Vented isn't viable in a prebuilt house so a split unit would do the job instead.
They can hear as well as cool / you don't really need central heating with these units. All up I don't think there is very much in it between a wet central heating system and air con on an ongoing basis.
Looks are hmmm
lee_fr200 said:
Ours is like that now whereas downstairs is quite cool but the 2 fans we have are in the boys bedrooms to keep them cool and me and the missus are roasting
A few years ago we bought a remore controlled, oscillating, 3-speed vertical fan with a timer from Lidl. O/H has it her side of the bed as she's the hot one (!) and it does a great job of cooling us without chilling us. It's similar to the one shown here (bottom row, second from right) but was, I think, around half the price:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fan-Pedestal-Fans-Oscill...
I think I am going to get ac installed into a couple of rooms this or next year. The split units are really affordable. My only problem has been finding a reasonably priced fitter around Manchester - the companies want a huge amount for what is a fairly straight forward job and I haven't met anybody doing it as weekend work yet.
To answer the above question, as far as I can see, ideally you should purge the lines even if the unit is prefilled with gas. It won't work as effectively if you skip this step, but some companies do sell them as diy fit without needing a purge.
I think I'll go for a single external unit with two cassettes internally as I don't have a loft space.
To answer the above question, as far as I can see, ideally you should purge the lines even if the unit is prefilled with gas. It won't work as effectively if you skip this step, but some companies do sell them as diy fit without needing a purge.
I think I'll go for a single external unit with two cassettes internally as I don't have a loft space.
200bhp said:
This picture doesnt' exaggerate the size of the ducting required:
Our current house was built in 1970 something so doesn't have ducted A/C. We have a 2k/w split system in the lounge and it does very well at keeping things cool even on a 40C day.
I take it the smaller unit on the right is the a/c and the bigger box is just doing air distribution?Our current house was built in 1970 something so doesn't have ducted A/C. We have a 2k/w split system in the lounge and it does very well at keeping things cool even on a 40C day.
We have a portable unit and that blasts out a jet of freezing cold air - the room immediately feels much more comfortable, but if you look at a thermometer it has little effect on the actual room temp.
I'd have thought the main issue in the UK is dealing with warm, sultry, nights - downstairs in our house is fine. Upstairs the bedrooms sit at 28C but last night at 11PM the outside temp was 'only' 20C.
So all you really need to do is take the edge off the bedroom temps. Surely a smallish unit in the loft, bit of ducting to each bedroom, and Bob's your uncle? Finding a suitable location for the outdoor unit is probably the trickiest bit.
Having a ceiling fan, if the height allowed, to swirl the cool air around the room would help a lot too. Indeed we've found when travelling the US that often the fans they have there are enough on their own.
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